Department of Justice

, December 19, 1996 -- The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Allan Rock, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Mr. Justice Thomas Braidwood of the Supreme Court of British Columbia is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of British Columbia. He fills a newly created position.

Justice Braidwood graduated in law from the University of British Columbia in 1956 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1957. He practised law with the firm Braidwood, MacKenzie in Vancouver. He served as a Bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia from 1981 to 1984.

Mr. Justice Braidwood was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1990.

The Honourable Mr. Justice John Edward Hall of the Supreme Court of British Columbia is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of British Columbia. He fills a newly created position.

Justice Hall graduated in law from the University of Western Ontario in 1963 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1964 and to the Bar of the Yukon in 1970. Mr. Justice Hall practised law with the firm Dumoulin, Black in Vancouver.

Mr. Justice Hall was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1991.

Grant D. Burnyeat, Q.C. of Vancouver is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver. He replaces Mr. Justice M.M. de Weerdt who has chosen to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Burnyeat graduated in law from the University of British Columbia in 1973 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1974. He has since practised law with the firm Davis & Company in Vancouver. He has mainly practised in the areas of general insolvency and real estate law.

Mr. Justice Burnyeat was a Bencher of the Law Society from 1988 to 1995 and was its treasurer in 1995.

Daphne Marguerite Smith, Q.C. of Kamloops is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in New Westminster. She replaces Mr. Justice D.A. Hogarth, who passed away.

Madam Justice Smith graduated in law from the University of

British Columbia in 1975 and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1976. Madam Justice Smith has been practising law with the firm Mair, Jensen, Blair in Kamloops. She has mainly practised in the areas of civil and family litigation.

These appointments are effective immediately.

 Ref.:    Johanne Senécal
          Minister's Office
          (613) 992-4621